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Investors ring the changes with Vodafone stock

Vodafone stocks were unpopular with fund managers in January (Andy Rain)

PROFESSIONAL investors, including the legendary fund manager Neil Woodford,
have been ditching their shares in Vodafone, but brokers are still tipping
the stock as a “buy”.

The telecoms giant was the most sold stock among fund managers during January,
according to FE Analytics. However, its shares remain popular among private
investors, who have been attracted by healthy dividends. It was the fifth
most bought stock last month, according to Interactive Investor, the
investment firm.

Vodafone is currently yielding 5.3%, and while the share price has rallied
more than 10% since the start of the year, it has dipped 4% over the past 12
months.

Last week Woodford dropped its remaining holdings from his High Income fund,
which, on average, holds investments for 15 years. He successfully sold out
of banks just before the start of the credit crisis and he also sidestepped
the tech bubble in the late 1990s.